Plant Runners

Running is common in the animal world, but did you know that runners exist in the plant world, too? It’s not exactly like it sounds -- plants don’t run! However, some plants do grow fascinating structures that are called “runners.” Like scattering seeds, runners are another way some plants reproduce.

Runners look similar to stems and sprout off of the base of a plant (often called the mother plant). The projection grows out horizontally near the ground, and at the end of it is a growth node. A small new plant (called a daughter plant) grows from the growth node. The daughter plant is usually dependent on the mother plant for nutrients and can’t sustain itself while it develops. Eventually, the daughter plant will grow roots into the soil and enough leaves to get its own energy through photosynthesis. At that point, the runner will die away, and the two plants will be independent.

A mother plant can send out many runners at once in order to maximize the chances that the daughter plants will survive. This method of reproduction allows a plant to quickly take over an area, crowding out other plants that might compete with them for resources such as access to sunlight. Some common plants that have runners in the US are strawberries, Bermuda grass, and spider plants.

There are many other ways plants reproduce besides runners and seeds. For example, some plants like irises send out structures called “rhizomes” horizontally underground, which create new plants. Others, like ferns, use spores to reproduce. Some kinds of cacti also use “cuttings,” where fallen leaves in the right conditions are able to grow into new plants.

Although plants can’t run, they do create new plants in many incredible ways!